Over 800 volunteers from Citizens’ Climate Lobby attended the July 2025 Summer Conference, participating in more than 400 lobby meetings on Lobby Day. We had a 28-member contingent from Wisconsin, with 10 young people fully or partially funded through CCL Wisconsin’s new scholarship program. See our state’s photo album here. We thank everyone who donated, especially Larry Hands and Karen Kendrick-Hands, who funded the large Two-for-One Match donation!
Asked how the experience changed her, Emelyn Beaster, leader of the Lawrence University CCL chapter stated, “By lobbying Congress, and being right on site in DC, I gained a lot of hope for the impact of the voice of the community in climate work. This lobby day came at a time where it’s been really easy to lose that hope or feel burnt out in climate work, but the conference reminded me that together, a community like CCL can become this really influential collective voice of action.”
We hope to bring as many or more volunteers of all ages together in Washington, DC, for the 2026 Conference and Lobby Day. Meanwhile, we continue our efforts from home by taking actions suggested by CCL National and by supporting the outreach and development work of our local chapters.
Our climate advocacy continues to be very important, especially in these difficult times. As climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe puts it, “The science is clear: every fraction of a degree of warming we prevent reduces suffering and saves lives. We already have the technology, the knowledge, and the ability to transition to a clean energy future, cut emissions, and build resilient communities. The biggest thing we’re missing is the collective will to act—and that’s something each of us can help create.
“The stakes couldn’t be higher, but so too are the opportunities. By choosing action, we not only protect what we love; we are also building a safer, healthier, and more equitable future. The power to turn awareness into momentum, and momentum into change, is in our hands.”
Introducing CCL WI’s new Scholarship Fund; help is requested with fundraising efforts
CCL Wisconsin is dedicated to supporting and empowering its members who wish to attend the 2025 Summer Conference and participate in Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., on July 20-22. And we believe that lack of funds to make the trip should be the last reason that someone cannot attend.
So we have developed a Scholarship Program this year. Learn more about the CCL Wisconsin Scholarship Guidelines here. Click here for the scholarship application form.
Our first-ever, state CCL fundraising effort was the successful CCL Wisconsin Younger Members Panel held on April 6. See this nine-minute highlights video.
As we continue to build the CCL Wisconsin Scholarship fund, we’d like to ask for help. Many CCL volunteers, family members, and friends simply do not have the time or inclination to travel to Washington, DC, for the annual Summer Conference and Lobby Day. However, if asked, perhaps they’d be willing to contribute to our CCL Wisconsin scholarship fund in order to help others who really would like to go but would need some financial assistance.
Any interested CCL Wisconsin supporter is invited to ask supportive family members and friends if they’d be willing to donate to this fund. They would be able to help young people and other CCL volunteers from Wisconsin who need help financially to travel to Washington, DC, for the summer Conference and Lobby Day. Here is a sample donation letter that could be customized.
With many thanks to our Citizens’ Climate Lobby supporters in Wisconsin, every little bit helps!
“Advocacy is empathy, compassion and community at work.” ― Janna Cachola
Our Climate Voter Conversations – One By One
by Holly Jorgenson, Madison CCL
I don’t know about you, but the flood of climate and political news in the past few weeks has kept me up at night. How are we ever going to keep the gains we’ve made and move faster and further from here given the political climate? It prompted me to think about what attitude I want to hold onto as a CCL member this fall and in the coming years. As we continue to speak out and persist, I considered putting more of my attention not just on what we’re fighting for, but on who we’re fighting alongside.
Based on 2023 Yale Communications Project figures for Wisconsin:
- 69% of us think global warming is happening.
- 60% are worried about it.
- 69% think global warming will harm future generations.
That means most of the people around me are aware to some degree and would supposedly want something done about it. They may affiliate with either party. Too many are not engaged or informed, and unfortunately many skip the polling booth. Our Wisconsin CCL Climate Voter Campaign and our Wisconsin Environmental Voter Project are geared to reaching out to those people.
We can talk to the people we know one at a time. I ran into an old acquaintance recently at our neighborhood farmer’s market. I asked if he planned on voting in the Primary; he wasn’t aware of that election. I told him about the two referendums aiming to modify our state constitution; how they could force the Governor to get approval from the legislature before allocating any federal money, which could hold up federal funds for disaster relief in Wisconsin. He listened, interested. I recommended he vote NO on both referendums to prevent that from happening. He enthusiastically agreed. I reinforced the August 13th date and the No and No for the amendments and I made a note in my calendar to remind him. It was easy. One by one.
See more information about having Courageous Climate Conversations and the other opportunities on our Climate Voter Campaign webpages. Choose an action that fits your life. Give it a try!
Growing Wausau’s Annual Earth Day Celebration
By Dan Barth, Rib Mountain-Marshfield CCL
CCL has organized an Earth Day Celebration in Wausau, Wisconsin for the past eight years. We have always centered our event around people and tree planting. We plant in various city parks with the cooperation and assistance of the Parks Department. We started with one tree and a handful of people, but over the years our Earth Day has evolved.
Several years ago, with the help of another organization we network with, we received a grant for enough money to plant 15 trees. About the same time, Wisconsin CCL offered a presentation that inspired us to recruit 15 planting teams with inclusivity foremost in our minds. Since then, we have raised the money for the annual tree plantings from donations and the sale of reusable shopping bags.
We partner with the local Native American Community who ceremonially bless us and the trees, and lead a Talking Circle after the planting. We celebrate our wonderful, nurturing planet and the diversity of life it so lavishly supports.
We plant trees and form a Talking Circle to express our environmental concerns and to celebrate our own amazing diversity. We are African American, Hmong, LBTGQ, Native American, Hispanic, Palestinian, Jewish, Christian and White, and have representatives from a wide variety of allied groups. One of our Indigenous friends always jokes that every time he sees us, he gets his hands dirty.
This year, over 100 folks took part. It was a superb day, graced by beautiful weather, and we raised almost enough money for next year’s celebration!
No matter our cultural background, no matter our politics, no matter our spiritual preferences or gender identity, we come together as a community in our reverence for our home amidst the stars.
Wis. primary phone banking July 31, Aug. 1, Aug. 7, Aug 8 and Aug. 12, from 6:00-7:30 pm
Join us in encouraging 30,000 low-voting Wisconsin environmentalists to vote! No experience is required–there will be a training portion at the beginning of every session for people new to phone banking!
We gather on Zoom for training and support, and to get access to the automated system we are using (called HubDialer). You can come to any and all of the sessions using this Zoom link: https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/j/83640131912
You don’t have to register, but we encourage it (and it encourages us!) Click the “Yes” button on the top right corner of the page to RSVP!
- Wed. 7/31, 6-7:30 pm CT: Register
- Thu. 8/1, 6-7:30 pm CT: Register
- Wed. 8/7, 6-7:30 pm CT: Register
- Thu. 8/8, 6-7:30 pm CT: Register
- Mon. 8/12, 6-7:30 pm CT: Register
You need a cell phone and a computer. HubDialer will send calls to you through the phone (callers never see your number) and you use the computer to use the script and record what took place. After a few times you’ll get the hang of it.
Optional ways to prepare:
- Read the Wisconsin Primary Phone Script
- Learn why each part is there in our 20 minute script training video
- Read and print the FAQs
New Wisconsin CCL At-Large Chapter Launches May 20th!
Wisconsin has chapters all across the state, and we’re proud of that! And yet we also know that there are people who are too far from a local chapter to feel connected or be involved with one. The new At-Large Chapter will provide a home base for climate-concerned people anywhere in the state and help them find their best way to take action.
If that sounds like you or someone you know, here’s how it will work:
- Meet once a month on Zoom for an hour.
- Get help to plan out your own actions that you can take during the month that fit your time/resources.
- Connect with other people around the state who feel like you about climate change, and help each other get into action.
- Spend an optional fifteen minutes after the meeting ends actually taking your next steps. It’s called co-working on Zoom, and it’s terrific!
- Learn how to integrate your climate actions into your life.
The chapter will be led by Madeleine Para, CCL president emeritus. Here’s what she has to say about why she is excited to do this:
“Now that I’m retired from the staff I get to do the things that are most fun for me. And what is most fun for me is being with people who want to make a difference on one of our biggest challenges, and helping us all find a path forward. So that’s why I offered to launch and lead a CCL chapter for all the people in our state who don’t have a local chapter near at hand and don’t have the energy to start one. In the Zoom era we can come together from everywhere in the state!”
Our first meeting will be Monday May 20th at 6pm.
If you are interested in joining this chapter, please fill out this very short form.
Earth month and beyond: Get your flyers, buttons and t-shirts!
April brings snow, rain and… Earth Day! Oh yeah, flowers too. It’s always a big month for talking to people about climate change, whether by tabling, making presentations, getting published in the media or helping people take action. Let’s make the most of it.
- Wear a t-shirt or a button. Glen Ecklund will mail them to you upon request, simply email CCLwisco@gmail.com. Buttons are $5 for one, $10 for 5, and $20 for 20. T-shirts are $20 if you pick them up and $26 if Glen mails them to you. Prices include shipping.
- Carry a quarter page flier with you. We have two different versions, a voter information flier and a Climate Voter Campaign flier. Print a few at home and stash them in your bag for those unplanned moments in the grocery store or pickle ball court when you’ve turned the conversation to climate change.
- Attend our Courageous Voter Conversation workshops to hone your skills at drawing people out on climate and voting.
- Log your efforts in the CCL action tracker, especially your climate conversations. Why? Because it feels good, to be honest. It helps you notice that you are getting stuff done. Congratulate yourself every time you do it.
- Use CCL’s Letter to the Editor tool to write to the papers about why you are a climate voter.
- Invite your friends to write postcards with you in honor of Earth Day. Get set up with postcards, instructions and names by emailing cclwisco@gmail.com. If it’s a nice spring day, you can do it in the park!
Whatever you do this month, we hope you find a way to make it fun. Action is the antidote to despair, and having fun with friends while you do it makes it all the sweeter.
Postcarding Parties in Madison twice a week!
Karen Carlson has graciously agreed to host two parties per week for folks to write postcards in the Arboretum Cohousing Community Room (1137 Erin St, Madison). Everyone is welcome! They will happen:
- Every Thursday, 7-9 pm
- Every Saturday, 10-11 am
Check the calendar (on this website) for changes to this event–the parties are currently scheduled through November, and we will remove the events once we’re out of postcards!
If Karen is busy, she will find a sub to host. However, it would be best for you to text Karen to confirm before making your way to the party. Text Karen at 608-515-6176 to confirm.
Bring a pen and your $0.53 postcard stamps and get ready to write! You can also buy stamps from Karen, she stocked up on them. We will be postcarding every week until the election.
See the calendar for updates to this and other events!
Citizens' Climate Lobby Wisconsin 